Tim Connelly, Nuggets GM, is an early hit in first few days in Denver

Tim Connelly, the new Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations, glided around the gym on Wednesday morning, chatting with players that had completed draft workouts with the team.

He did not talk to media. He’ll get that accomplished on Thursday in a formal press conference at the Pepsi Center introducing him to the world in his new role.

Initial impressions from those who have already had a chance to talk to him have all been positive, and that stretched from staff all the way to the players brought in today for pre-draft workouts.

Connelly took the time to individually talk to them about their workouts, what he saw, and where they could improve.

“He liked the way I played,” said former Virginia Tech guard Erick Green. “He was very impressed with what I can do. He said stop thinking so much, play my game. … We had a nice conversation and hopefully it all works out.”

Follow Chris Dempsey on Twitter @dempseypost or email him at cdempsey@denverpost.com

He sounds competent. My only concern is his being with losing programs. But if he realizes he has an opportunity to help a winning team to take it to another level, then perhaps he’ll help the Nuggets to greater success.

Chris Dempsey arrived at The Denver Post in Dec. 2003 after seven years at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he primarily covered the University of Colorado football and men's basketball teams. A University of Colorado-Boulder alumnus, Dempsey covers the Nuggets and also chips in on college sports.

Nicki Jhabvala is the Sports Digital News Editor for The Denver Post. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor, and she was most recently the overnight home page editor at the New York Times.